Clark Airport Long-Haul Flights Gain Popularity

Although Emirates was forced to cancel its scheduled service between Dubai and Clark International Airport, one carrier continues to earn favourable reviews from the airport's only long-haul service. Qatar Airways began offering daily flights between Clark International Airport and Doha last November and the service has proved popular for overseas Filipino workers residing north of Manila.

qatar clark airport
Image Source: Clark International Airport
According to Victor Luciano, the President of Clark International Airport, there has been an increasing number of passengers arriving at Clark International Airport aboard the Qatar Airways flights from Doha. "We have observed that Qatar Airways flights to Clark are always fully booked," said Luciano.

Overseas Filipino workers from the Northern Philippines and those in certain parts of Metro Manila prefer Clark International Airport due to the better access that it offers. Luciano says that several newly-hired overseas workers employed in countries including Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait use the Clark-Doha flights.

In an interview with the Gulf Times, a passenger from Subic, Zambales, said that Clark International Airport offers far more convenience being just 45 minutes away from home, compared to a more than five hour ordeal navigating through traffic in Metro Manila. 

According to a female passenger who lives in Quezon City, Clark International Airport is less than two hours away being just 96 kilometres north of Manila. "There was a time when we spent more than six hours on the road because of the huge traffic going out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila," said the passenger. A complimentary bus service is currently offered from Clark International Airport to Trinoma Mall and Resorts World Manila. 

Clark International Airport is growing in popularity as several airline passengers discover the convenient accessibility that Clark offers within close proximity to Metro Manila using the north Luzon express way. The airport is not only proving popular for overseas workers but for transit passengers as well that arrive from Europe and the United States.  

A number of other carriers currently operate at Clark International Airport including Asiana, Cebu Pacific, Dragonair, Jin Air, Seair International, Tigerair, and Tigerair Philippines. This offers passengers arriving on the Doha flight a number of opportunities to connect to other destinations. Seair International is hoping to build its interline agreements with carriers such as Qatar Airways to feed traffic on its routes to popular tourist destinations including Boracay Island and Palawan.

The Philippine government is currently developing Clark International Airport's terminal to accommodate 15 million passengers per year, while airport officials plan to increase efforts to promote the airport throughout the Gulf region. 

2 comments:

  1. I hate to tell Mr. Luciano, but he has some cleaning up to do at Clark.
    At the entrance door, there is a lot of congestion because the baggage x-ray is done right there. Move it in a few more meters to give people space!
    Also, when I last used Clark, only one scanner was working and there was a crowd of people waiting to enter. There was a complete team sitting at the other scanner texting, talking, and doing nothing while the scanner was not used. If people want to behave useless, Mr. Luciano, fire them!
    Finally, your airport officials and airline executives should stay out of the business class passenger lounge. When I was there, there was a regular parade of airport officials and airline people coming in to smoke, help themselves to drinks, and what not. Don't believe me? I have a picture of two of them! Professionalize your staff - and airport is serious business!

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  2. agree. ayusin ang clark.

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